How the Chicago Cubs may luck into free agent Zac Gallen

The Chicago Cubs have shaken things up considerably more this offseason than they were expected to do by most.

More News: Chicago Cubs rotation is “deep in meh and unexcitement” says brutal ZiPS projection

They acquired two long-targeted assets in third baseman Alex Bregman and starting pitcher Edward Cabrera, via free agency and trade, respectively. They restocked their depleted bullpen with four new free agent acquisitions– Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, and Hunter Harvey. The front office also spent some considerable money in keeping 2025 holdovers Shota Imanaga and Caleb Thielbar.

This is certainly enough for Chicago to comfortably sit back and wait on the coming season, content in knowing that they did enough to give themselves a real shot at a championship.

But there’s buzz out there that the Cubs may actually be pursuing one more major acquisition before the start of spring training.

Cubs still pursuing Zac Gallen?

More News: Chicago Cubs: Overlooked asset may actually be key to team’s success

Veteran MLB insider Bruce Levine, during a segment on 670 The Score, recently revealed that the Cubs are still talking with free agent starter Zac Gallen:

“Those talks are ongoing. My reporting is the possibility is that it’ll be a shorter-term type of deal.”

Well, that’s certainly an unexpected and, honestly, somewhat puzzling development. After all, getting Gallen would give the Cubs six legit starters heading into spring training (alongside Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, and Shota Imanaga) with a seventh, Justin Steele, due to return before the All-Star break.

Acquiring Gallen would also add another major salary to the payroll of a budget-minded team already close to crossing the first luxury tax threshold.

But, given current developments, the Cubs may benefit from being in the right place at the right time to land the free agent workhorse right-hander.

Gallen’s plan B

The Rangers and the Mets recently satiated their hunger for starting pitching by trading for Mackenzie Gore and Freddy Peralta, respectively. The Red Sox signed Ranger Suarez. The Dodgers stuffed themselves with Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz. The Blue Jays also gorged themselves this offseason.

The market for Gallen is shrinking and the former Arizona Diamondback may have to fall back on a plan B when it comes to 2026. That’s where the Cubs and the possibility of a short-term deal may come in.

The 30-year-old starter is coming off a down season where he posted an ugly 4.83 ERA in 33 appearances. He’s young and fresh enough to sign a one-year contract, banking on a rebound 2026, and re-enter the free agent market in 2027 in search of a longer and more lucrative contract.

The Cubs have a well-deserved reputation as a team adept at turning around the fortunes of struggling pitchers. Just last season, they celebrated in the successes of rehabbed arms Matthew Boyd, Brad Keller, and Drew Pomeranz who played a big role in the team’s push to the postseason.

Money may not be as much of an issue

As for the money, Cubs’ GM Carter Hawkins has said that the luxury tax constraints are “less of a consideration” this year since the team is now seen as a contender. The assumption is that the Cubs will pass the first $244 million luxury tax threshold in 2026 anyway, so they’ll have more than $20 million to play with before another penalty comes into play.

Per Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib:

“The assumption is that the Cubs, at some point, will go over the first level of the CBT, and there’s a silver lining in that. With the Cubs accounting for that, they now have around $23 million in space before reaching the next level at $264 million. In other words, the penalties the Cubs would pay if their payroll is at $245 million next season are the same as they would be if their payroll is at $263 million.

It suggests the Cubs could still have a move or two up their sleeve this offseason, if not, a healthy amount of space for in-season moves.”

Chicago also has pretty clean books, with only Bregman, Maton, and Dansby Swanson owed any significant money beyond 2026.

Gallen to the Cubs is a longshot, but stranger things have happened in baseball. Gallen’s best bet, with Framber Valdez still on the market ahead of him, may be to go for a short-term deal and position himself for 2027.

If the Cubs can scoop up a potential ace-level starter on a friendly deal, why wouldn’t they? Having too many starters is a good problem to have.

The post How the Chicago Cubs may luck into free agent Zac Gallen appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-zac-gallen-free-agent-2026